By Meg Jorsh and Hetty Partington

Last updated at 14:48, Friday, 13 November 2009

Two Carlisle models are working together on a campaign for a new shop.

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Sam MacBean and Natasha Bloxham, both 22, will feature in posters for a prejudice-beating new charity shop.

Opening on December 9, the Carlisle Mencap Opportunities store in St Cuthbert’s Lane will be staffed and supplied by people with learning disabilities.

Sam, who is autistic, turned heads in March with a glamorous billboard campaign for Lockstock Hairdressing in Warwick Road, Carlisle.

And in June, student Natasha, of Currock, was voted the winner of The Cumberland News Me Models competition.

Sam said: “I really like modelling – I like getting my hair and my makeup done.”

Natasha, who also works part-time for Carlisle Mencap, added: “I’d not worked with Sam before, but she seemed really giggly and really nice. The day of the shoot was just full of laughter.”

Despite being learning-disabled and partially sighted, Sam leads a perfectly ordinary life. She goes to college, has a great sense of humour, loves clothes and handbags and lives with a friend.

Sheila Gregory, manager of Carlisle Mencap, thought she would be the ideal spokesperson for a shop that shows what learning-disabled people can do.

She said: “People like Sam will be running the shop, with support workers to help them, and learning retail skills.

“As well as quality second-hand stock, they’ll be selling goods made locally by people with learning disabilities.”

Around 20 staff members a week will man the store, wearing T-shirts hand-printed by learning-disabled suppliers.

Items for sale will include artwork, jewellery and needlecraft, as well as clothing processed by disabled staff at a warehouse in South John Street.

Other plans include an art wall and an information point where the public can find out about learning disabilities.

Sheila added: “I’ve been involved in traditional charity shops for years and we want to move on from there. We decided to bring service users right into the middle of town and let the general public see them and what they are capable of.”

Sam and Natasha’s hair was done free of charge by Lynda Kyle, of Lockstock Hairdressing, while makeup was provided by Vicky Chapman of JC’s Grooming and Beauty, Lowther Street, Carlisle.

First published at 14:22, Friday, 13 November 2009
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk